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Effectiveness of Physical Therapy Interventions in Children with Brachial Plexus Birth Injury: A Systematic Review
Mariana Aguiar de Matos1, Deisiane Oliveira Souto2,3, Bruno Alvarenga Soares3
1Physical Therapy Department, Faculdade Sete Lagoas (FACSETE), Sete Lagoas, Minas Gerais, Brasil.
Insights
Physical therapy effectively treats brachial plexus birth injury (BPBI) in children. Combining physical therapy with other interventions shows the most significant improvements in range of motion and muscle strength.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neurology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Brachial plexus birth injury (BPBI) affects infants and children, leading to motor deficits.
- Effective early interventions are crucial for optimizing functional outcomes in pediatric patients with BPBI.
Approach:
- A systematic review of randomized controlled trials was performed using major medical databases.
- Included studies focused on physical therapy interventions for patients under 18 years old with BPBI.
- Methodological quality and evidence quality were assessed using PEDro scores and the GRADE system, respectively.
Key Points:
- Seven studies, involving infants and children with BPBI, were included in the review.
- Interventions and participant characteristics varied across studies.
- Combined physical therapy with other modalities demonstrated the largest effect on primary outcomes (range of motion, muscle strength, bone mineral density), albeit with low-quality evidence.
Conclusions:
- Physical therapy interventions, whether standalone or combined with other treatments, show effectiveness in addressing short-term disabilities associated with BPBI in children.
- Further high-quality research is needed to confirm optimal therapeutic strategies for pediatric BPBI.
Aim:
To systematically review the effectiveness of physical therapy interventions in infants, children and adolescents with brachial plexus birth injury (BPBI).
Methods:
Systematic review of randomized controlled trials including patients under 18 years old with BPBI was conducted on Medline, Cochrane, Embase, Amed and Pedro databases. Methodological quality was assessed by the PEDro score and quality of evidence by the GRADE system. The primary outcomes measured were range of motion, muscle strength and bone mineral density.
Results:
Seven studies were included, two in infant and 5 in children, of 932 title and abstracts screened. The interventions, characteristics of the participants and outcomes were diverse. The largest effect was found when other intervention was combined with conventional physical therapy in the primary outcomes, with low quality of evidence.
Conclusion:
Physical therapy interventions alone or in combination with other treatment modalities are effective in improving short-term disabilities in children with BPBI.
